Extracellular Lipids Accumulate in Human Carotid Arteries as Distinct Three-Dimensional Structures and Have Proinflammatory Properties

Satu Lehti, Su D. Nguyen, Ilya Belevich, Helena Vihinen, Hanna M. Heikkilä, Rabah Soliymani, Reijo Käkelä, Jani Saksi, Matti Jauhiainen, Gregory A. Grabowski, Outi Kummu, Sohvi Hörkkö, Marc Baumann, Perttu J. Lindsberg, Eija Jokitalo, Petri T. Kovanen, Katariina Öörni
  • American Journal Of Pathology, February 2018, Elsevier
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.09.019

Lipoproteins accumulate in arteries, become modified and cause inflammation

What is it about?

We isolated, characterized, and visualized lipid particles accumulating in human atherosclerotic lesions. The article shows that the lipids come from plasma lipoproteins such as LDL that have been modified in the arterial wall. These lipid particles cause inflammation and can so cause disease progression.

Why is it important?

The data give us information on how atherosclerotic lesions are formed and shows that the accumulating lipids can induce inflammation in the arteries.


Dr Katariina Öörni
Wihuri Research Institute

There are amazing electron microscopic images of the lipid particle and cholesterol crystals that accumulate in the atherosclerotic lesions.

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The following have contributed to this page: Dr Katariina Öörni and Dr Satu Lehti